Portugal
A practical overview of key regulations and procedures for UK residents taking their boat to Portugal
IMPORTANT
This information is intended as a general guide for UK residents taking a privately owned, UK‑registered pleasure vessel to Portugal for a short visit. It addresses key requirements and commonly asked questions but doesn’t attempt to deal with every possible situation.
If you are resident in Portugal, keeping the boat there long-term, chartering, or using a boat commercially, different rules may apply.
Paperwork
You can find general guidance on the paperwork required when boating abroad on our Paperwork page.
Insurance
Third party liability insurance is required for most recreational craft in Portugal, including motor-powered craft and sailing craft over 7 metres. The legal requirement is set out by reference to Portuguese vessel classifications, so owners should check how their boat is classified locally.
Evidence of competence
For general information on the validity of RYA certificates abroad, see Evidence of competence abroad.
Portuguese recreational boating legislation requires the skipper of a recreational vessel to hold an appropriate licence or certificate of competence. There is a limited exception for recreational craft that are less than 5 metres in length and powered by an engine of less than 4.5 kW, provided they are navigating by day and within a port.
The legislation also provides for the recognition of equivalent documents issued by authorities in European Union countries. Non-compliance may result in a fine of between €250 and €2,500.
Portugal has not adopted UNECE Resolution 40. However, for a UK-flagged boat, an International Certificate of Competence (ICC) that is valid for the vessel concerned is generally accepted and is recommended.
Entry and exit formalities
Portugal is an EU member state and part of the customs territory of the EU, which includes EU territorial waters. You can find information on EU customs requirements and Schengen Area immigration at Entry and exit formalities.
Evidence of the status of Union Goods
Portuguese customs authorities may ask for evidence that a boat has the customs status of Union goods. The documents requested can vary depending on the circumstances and the port of entry. A VAT invoice may not be sufficient on its own, and customs authorities may also ask for a T2L or other evidence of Union goods status. For more information, see EU customs, import duty and VAT.
Lighthouse and buoyage fee
A lighthouse and buoyage fee, the Taxa de Farolagem e Balizagem (TFB), applies to national vessels subject to registration and to foreign vessels using Portuguese ports. According to Portuguese government guidance on the TFB, the amount due varies according to the waterway area, the activity carried out and, where applicable, the vessel’s gross tonnage. For foreign vessels, the validity period depends on how long the vessel remains in Portugal.
Circulation tax
Portugal’s annual circulation tax, the Imposto Único de Circulação (IUC), can apply to recreational craft as well as to road vehicles and private aircraft. Official Portal das Finanças guidance states that Category F includes recreational craft for private use with motor power of 20 kW or more, registered since 1986, and that IUC may also apply to vehicles in relevant categories that are not subject to registration in Portugal but remain there for more than 183 days, consecutive or not, in a calendar year. For recreational craft, the tax is normally payable by the end of January each year. The RYA has not independently verified how IUC is applied to foreign-flagged boats, so boat owners keeping a boat in Portugal should confirm their position with the Portuguese tax authority or their local tax office.
Equipment and safety regulations
Background
In 2011 and 2012 the RYA looked into reports from UK-flagged vessels that Portuguese domestic regulations were being applied to visiting foreign-flagged boats.
In January 2013, the RYA obtained legal advice on how Portuguese legislation applied to UK-flagged vessels. This advice covered safety equipment, possible fines for non-compliance, manning requirements and taxes. The RYA was advised that Portuguese safety equipment requirements could be applied to boats from other EU countries visiting Portugal, except where a vessel is on innocent passage in accordance with UNCLOS.
Application to visiting boats
The Director General of the Autoridade Marítima confirmed that EU-flagged boats were being treated as national vessels under Portuguese legislation. As a result, the Maritime Police and Portuguese Navy had been carrying out safety inspections of EU-flagged boats against the requirements that applied to Portuguese-registered pleasure craft.
Following communication with the RYA, the Director General recognised the difficulties this presented for non-Portuguese-flagged boats. The matter was discussed between the Maritime Authority, including the Captain of the Port and the Maritime Police responsible for enforcement, and the Maritime Administration, DGRM, which is responsible for law-making. The resulting policy decision was that, for pleasure craft not engaged in any locally-based commercial activity, such as boat rental, cruises, fishing or diving, Portuguese safety equipment rules should only apply where the vessel stays in Portugal for more than a total of 180 days in a 365-day period.
Safety equipment advice
The Portuguese Maritime Authority also emphasised that, regardless of flag state rules or the policy clarification above, safety remains the skipper’s responsibility and all vessels should carry appropriate safety equipment on board.
Since that communication, the RYA has not received reports of further difficulties. However, inspections are still reported from time to time, with fire extinguishers appearing to be of particular interest.
Waste water discharge and holding tanks in Portugal
Portugal has general environmental rules controlling wastewater discharges, and MARPOL Annex IV may apply to larger vessels. The RYA has not identified a specific Portuguese holding-tank requirement for visiting private pleasure vessels. However, guidance from the RYA and The Green Blue recommends using pump-out facilities where available and avoiding black-water discharge in marinas, harbours, anchorages, bathing areas, shellfish waters or other sensitive locations.
You can read general information on waste water discharge and holding tanks on the Holding tanks page.
Orcas
Reports of orca interactions with recreational craft have taken place during the summer months since 2020 along the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Orcas are a protected species under international, EU, Spanish and Portuguese law, and as such it is illegal to take any action that may harm or disturb these marine mammals.
As these are wild animals, it is not possible for the RYA to provide advice that will fully mitigate the risks associated with orca encounters. This is one of the many risk factors that skippers must consider when planning passages, as it may affect the chosen route, safety protocols, time of departure or even the need for a particular journey.
The Cruising Association and the Atlantic Orca Working Group are collating information on both incidents and uneventful passages through the area inhabited by orcas. To learn more about this initiative, review previous reports or report your own experience, visit the Cruising Association.